Mayo Gaels were defeated by Kiltimagh in the first round of the Junior Championship (Group 4) played in Kiltimagh on Saturday evening the 31st of May.
In an exciting game of football, played in perfect conditions, the Gaels dominated play for long periods and it was only poor defending on several occasions coupled with a lack of composure in front of the posts that prevented the lads from achieving a closer result on the scoreboard.
Mayo Gaels started brightly and with John Sloyne and Tom McNamara delivering quality ball from midfield the Kiltimagh defense initially struggled to cope with the pace and movement of the Gaels forwards. In the eight minute John Sloyne converted a penalty after a foul on Brian Flynn and this score was quickly followed by a point from a free by the impressive Damien Quinn. Kiltimagh opened their account with a point on the sixteenth minute however by this stage the Gaels had missed several easy scoring opportunities and this wastefulness was severely punished when quick Kiltimagh counter attacks yielded two fortuitous goals in the twentieth and twenty-second minute. Despite points from Alan Prendergast, John Sloyne and Tom McNamara a resurgent – and significantly more accurate – Kiltimagh added several extra scores (including a goal) in the final quarter to leave the score line at half-time : Kiltimagh 3.07, Mayo Gaels 1.04.
Mayo Gaels started the second half in determined fashion and Brian Flynn was again taken down for a penalty in the thirty-fifth minute – unfortunately for the Gaels the resultant spot kick was narrowly sent wide. Pressure from the Gaels was finally rewarded in the forty-fifth minute when Declan McDonagh hit the net from a goal mouth scramble. Joe Gilroy, who took over free taking duties in the second-half, tacked on several frees in the final quarter however as the game entered the final minutes a tiring Gaels defense were caught by several successful Kiltimagh counter attacks to leave a final scoreline of Kiltimagh 5:12 Mayo Gaels 2:07.
The Junior’s next outing in the Championship is against Moy Davitts in Abbey Park on Saturday the 8th of June at 7.00pm.
Mayo Gaels: J. Walsh, A. Jennings, B. Heneghan, K. Burke, K. Brett, N. Quinn, J. Sloyne (1.01), T. McNamara (0.01), D. McDonagh (1.00), D. Quinn (0.01), A. Prendergast (0.01), B. Flynn, PJ Larkin; Sub : J. Gilroy(0.03).
